I love sharing the beauty of my West Virginia home through my original pastel drawings of wildflowers. I have lived in these mountains much of my adult life, finding inspiration in the breathtaking vistas, the delicacy of the flowers, and the exquisite beauty of the woods, valleys, and riversides in Pocahontas County. Focusing on the details of each bloom and leaf as I draw gives me respite from a very busy world. I love the freedom this medium gives me as I blend and layer colors for each creation.

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EDUCATION

 

Self-taught except for occasional workshops through the years and now through online tutorials.

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Certificate of Completion at New River CTC Workforce Education for course entitled Designing Effective Websites.  24 hours of training and 2.5 CEUs    2016

             

EXPERIENCE   

 

2016 – Present

Self-employed artist, selling my most recent work using a soft pastel medium. I market prints and note cards through my website www.naturesingsart.com, and in local gift shops. I also post on social media sites (links are on my website).

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2010- Present

I helped create and now administer a satellite office/distance learning center for New River Community and Technical College and Pocahontas County Commission, bringing higher education to a remote area.

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2008- 2010

 I was a juried artist and wholesaled hand-made note cards to Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia.      

 

1993 - 2009

 

Co-Founder and owner of Morning Star Folk Arts, retail and wholesale business in Hillsboro, WV. Featured West Virginia-made artwork, crafts, folk toys, books and music.  

 

·     Created and sold my framed originals, prints, and note cards of wildflower drawings in pastel and ink.

·     Created and managed websites for family music, art, WV-made retail and wholesale businesses: morningstarfolkarts.com and morningstarfolkmusic.com

·     Worked in textiles and design with a series of dolls entitled “WV Heritage Dolls”. I worked from original designs based on period concepts, fabricating all clothing by hand

      and machine stitching.

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AWARDS

 

Marlinton Women’s Club Arts and Crafts Show

Pocahontas County Art Guild

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RELATED SKILLS

   

Website design, creation and maintenance

Photography

Layout, marketing

Crewel embroidery using original drawings